THE last-16 of the Champions League kicked off tonight as Man City beat Copenhagen 3-1 in their first let clash.
Meanwhile, Champions League kings Real Madrid overcame RB Leipzig 1-0 in Germany.
Tomorrow night, PSG host Real Sociedad while Lazio welcome Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
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Guardiola with eyes on the defence
After winning an amazing treble last season, Man City are still in a good position to defend all three trophies.
It will take some doing but with the depth of quality in their squad, you would not bet against them.
They have one foot in the quarter finals of the Champions League, face Luton Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup and are two points behind Liverpool in the Premier League.
Madrid in Kroos control in Leipzig
With all the stars in Carlo Ancelotti’s side, one player who often gets overlooked is their midfielder Toni Kroos.
The stability he brings to this team, while linking play, is something that takes Madrid to another level.
Once again this evening, his stats over the course of the game are something to be respected.
Quiet night for Haaland in Denmark
Despite their emphatic win, Copenhagen did manage to keep Erling Haaland fairly quiet this evening.
The big Norwegian probably had more glimpses of goal in added time than he did in the rest of the game.
Not that Guardiola will be worried, just his presence on the pitch creates openings for the players around him.
City continue to impress with form
Man City go into a run of games now before they face Liverpool at Anfield on March 10.
Being the perfectionist that he is, Pep Guardiola will want to head into that crunch match having won every game before it.
They face Chelsea this weekend but also have a Manchester derby thrown in the mix too.
Diaz takes over Bellingham mantle
Brahim Diaz stepped into the void this evening due to the injury to Jude Bellingham.
It was his goal that seperated the sides at the Red Bull Arena.
With a special strike, it left many asking the question…..Jude who?
De Bruyne back in groove for City
Having spent such a long time out injured, many wondered if we would see the same Kevin De Bruyne when he finally returned.
He has certainly answered that question and it looks like he has never been away as he is involved in all that Man City do.
Another stellar performance this evening which saw him score one goal and get two assists.
True class.
FT: RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
Brahim Diaz’s stunning goal is the difference between the sides.
Marco Rose will be giving his side some shooting practice when they get back together for training.
The stats would suggest that the Germans dominated the game, but Real Madrid come away with a slender one-goal advantage.
FT: Copenhagen 1-3 Man City
It is a comfortable win for Pep Guardiola’s side in the end.
They made things more difficult for themselves when Ederson’s blunder led to a Copenhagen equaliser.
In the end, Man City will be pleased to take a two goal lead back to the Etihad Stadium.
FT: RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
A disappointing result for the Germans at the Red Bull Arena.
Real Madrid were favourites to win this game but Leipzig did enough to score the goals that could have won this game.
They now face a tough task at the Bernabeu.
FT: Copenhagen 1-3 Man City
Many City deal with a tricky fixture and now have one foot in the quarter finals of the Champions League.
They will take a two goal advantage back to Manchester for the second leg.
Copenhagen have tried their hardest to cause an upset but the visitors’ class shone through.
Copenhagen 1-3 Man City
90+2. Foden cuts in from the flank and spots the run of De Bruyne.
He gets to the byline and gives it back to Foden.
Shifting it onto his left foot he buries his effort into the back of the net.
Goal – Phil Foden (Man City)
RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
90+2. Leipzig will be disappointed with this result.
They have had nine shots on targets and to have not scored a single goal will infuriate Marco Rose.
You could argue that they should be heading to Madrid with a much more favourable scoreline.
Copenhagen 1-2 Man City
90. Man City are still probing, trying to find a third goal.
Copenhagen are starting to get frustrated, unable to get the ball back off the defending champions.
They have managed to keep Erling Haaland quiet this evening.
There will be three minutes added in Denmark.
RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
87. The referee is getting a bit card-happy in this game now.
Madrid seem content to hold onto their goal advantage to take back to Spain with them.
As they look to retain possession, Leipzig fly in with some heavy challenges trying to get the ball back.
Credit: Getty
Copenhagen 1-2 Man City
84. Jordan Larsson has come on for Copenhagen.
He is the son of former Celtic and Barcelona striker Henrik.
If he is anything like his father, he could be some talent.
RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
82. More worries for Carlo Ancelotti as Brahim Diaz is down in need of some treatment.
It is the last thing Real Madrid need at the moment as their injury count piles up.
Leipzig are starting to rain more shots down on Lunin’s goal but the Madrid keeper is equal to it so far this evening.
Copenhagen 1-2 Man City
77. Bernardo Silva is on the edge of a heavy challenge and a free kick is awarded.
The Portuguese midfielder is not happy with that one and seems to be in some pain as he limps away from it.
Guardiola is getting Nunes to warm up, he will not want to risk the fitness of Silva.
Credit: AFP RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
74. Henrichs feeds the ball to Olmo, who immediately looks to shoot from outside the box.
Lunin gets down well into the bottom corner of the goal to make the save.
Real Madrid break quickly with Brahim Diaz who finds Vinicius Junior in the box.
The Brazilian’s right-footed shot strikes the post and comes back out.
Copenhagen 1-2 Man City
71. Doku shifts the ball onto his right foot and looks to bend one into the top corner.
Grabara makes a theatrical one-handed save to palm it away.
Oscar Hojlund, brother of Rasmus, has come on for the Danes.
RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
70. Dani Carvajal is shown a yellow card for a clumsy foul.
Leipzig are doing well to get bodies between the Madrid players and the goal.
The amount of efforts that have been blocked this evening, preventing Gulacsi from being called into action.
Copenhagen 1-2 Man City
64. Copenhagen have brought on ex-Cardiff City striker Andreas Cornelius to try and get a goal.
He will offer a more physcial problem for the Man City defence.
Guardiola’s side continue to pass the ball around, patiently trying to find an opening.
RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
62. Camavinga has a chance to get a shot away but it is blocked by his own playeer as it strikes Rodrygo.
Leipzig go straight down the other end and Olmo gets a shot away from a tight angle, but it is high and wide.
Both sides are still having a go in this game, neither side is sitting back and taking their foot off the gas at all.
Credit: Getty Copenhagen 1-2 Man City
57. This game just goes to show, once you get to this stage of the Champions League, this is no such thing as an easy game.
Man City are dominating possession stil but just cannot find that final pass to open Copenhagen up.
The longer the game stays at only a single goal being the difference, Copenhagen have the chance of a sucker punch on the counter.
RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid
53. The hosts have certainly not given up in this game.
Dani Olmo has the chance to shoot but Lunin makes an easy save in the middle of the goal.
Benjamin Sesko has yet another chance, this time wide on the edge of the six yard box.
He strikes it well but once again the Madrid keeper gets down well to save in the bottom corner.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
